New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-03-30
COERCION At ITS WORST.

Lord Salisbury is true to his word. lie Is
dealing with Irishmen as if they were Hotten-
tots. The new Coercion bill ought to satisfy
the most impOrtunate advocates of force legis-
lation. 1t arms the Viceroy with authority to
proclaim societies found to be disturbing public
peace and menaces the National League with
DISRUPTION. 1t abolishes the jury system alto
gether in cases of criminal conspiracy, boycott
ing, iiotlng and various agrarian offences and
empowers magistrates to sentence suspects at
their own discretion. In cases of murder and
aggravated crimes of violence change OF
venue from Ireland to England is permitted
Political offences are excluded from the opera
ton of the bill and Mr.. Balfour disclaims any
intention of interfering with the liberty
of the press; but as the magistrates
are authorized to punish any person
guilty of melting boycotting, conspiracy and
other agraran crimes. mechanism for muzzllng
Irish Journalists evidently provided.
In comparison with tins bill Mr. Forst"rs and
Sir George Trevelyan's acts were moderate
measures Mr.. Forster was armed with I'M
limited power of arrest in proclaimed districts
and he succeeded in breaking up the Land
League by filling the iails with prisoners who
COulQ DDU Dt tIlcu anu ConN Niis 'hiioui,
with the aid of the magistrates, can fill the
prisons with suspects, condemned to convlcts
cells for SIX months. Sir George Treveyan
employed Irish iuries, selected with great care,
in cOnvicting the Phoenix Park assassins and
other murderers; but made little use of the ex-
ceptional powers conferred upon special tri-
bnnals consisting of three magistrates. Mr. Bal
four threatens to take Irish criminals out OF the
island and to have their fate decided by Eng
lish jures. British magistrates are to exercise
summary powers of conviction in minor agra
rian cases and English courts on English soil
are to deal with the chief criminals. In either
event the verdicts will be certain to cause in
tense irritation and to kindle passionate resent
ment in Ireland. 1t is hard thing to say, but
these proposals seem to have been deliberately
contrived for the purpose Of exasperating pub
lie sentiment in the island and promoting a
spirit of open rebellion.
Mr.. Balfour made specious attempt to justi-
fly the introduction of his dracOnian law by cit
ing the opinions of various magistrates and re-
ferring to the number of persons now under
police protection. Aside from the operation of
the Plan of Campaign, there is nothing
in the present state OF Ireland that calls
for exceptional legislation of this kind.
When Mr.. Forster asked for coercion there was
more agrarian crime than there had been since
the year of the great famine. When Sir George
Trevelyan brought in the Crimes act the
Phoenix Park muI derers had done their cxecra-
bic work. In the present instance there is no
adequate reason for passing the most stringent
Coercion act of recent times. There has been
L. h.. 81 ,.axt.
crime i'm its most violent forms. The
Plan of Campaign. which the present Govern
ment allowed to be generally introduced before
they could muster sufficient courage to pro-
claim its Elegantly, is undoubtedly jury-proof
under existing conditions and extraordinary
measures are required for the suppression OF
this formidable conspiracy against land
holders. But with what degree Of con-
sistency can the Ministry have recourse
to the most drastic form of coercion
when its own Land Commission has condemned
existing rents as exorbitant and when the need
Of land reform measures of the most radical
character is freely admitted The Conserva-
tives and their Liberal allies may vote for the
Coercion act but they will be unable to justify
it on grounds of necessity or expediency. 1t Is
not measure that will tranquillize Ireland.
1t will excite evil passions and revive the worst
horrors of the long feud between the English
and Irish races.